Anglicare’s Sharmaine Hudson was recently presented with the inaugural Excellence in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Work Award for Tasmania.
The award recognises the outstanding work of an individual worker or manager in the sector.
“Our community and public sector workers deliver incredible, life-changing services for vulnerable Tasmanians, day in, day out,” said the Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne who presented the award. “Sharmaine has worked with Anglicare in the south of the State for many years, with particular expertise in alcohol and other drug specific programs,” she said.
Sharmaine began her career with Anglicare in 2003. She said the award was “completely unexpected”. “I didn’t even know that I’d been nominated,” she said.
Sharmaine said the best reward was seeing a person ‘move on with their life”. “My aim is to assist people to become empowered, to be able to use their own strengths and resources,” she said.
She said it was important for workers in the sector to be non-judgemental and to have the ability to listen. “You need to be there for the long haul,” she said. “For example, I have worked with one of my clients for over five years and he’s now got stable accommodation, food in the cupboard and he’s working. He’s got himself back on board. I think that is so wonderful”.